Melissa McCarthy To Lead “Happytime Murders”

Melissa McCarthy has joined the long in the works R-rated action comedy puppet movie “The Happytime Murders” for STXfilms and The Jim Henson Co.

Brian Henson is on board to direct the film which is set in a world where humans and puppets co-exist, with the puppets viewed as second-class citizens.

When the puppet cast members of 1980s children’s TV show “The Happytime Gang” begin turning up dead, an alcoholic, disgraced LAPD detective-turned-private eye puppet takes the case with his former human partner.

Todd Berger and Dee Robertson wrote the initial drafts, with the latest script by Erich and Jon Hoeber. Brian Henson, Jeffrey Hayes, McCarthy, and Ben Falcone will produce and shooting is slated to begin in August.